Link Between Antidepressants and Diabetes

Sad to say, but I know more people on antidepressants than not. I know they are sometimes medically necessary--I've had friends who've felt they've needed to be on them while PREGNANT, that's pretty serious. But if you're just feeling a little blue, besides the very real risk of causing suicidal ideation, there's also a risk of diabetes (plus all the other side effects
we don't know about yet PLUS all the stuff going into the water).

From newswise:

Newswise — While analyzing data from Saskatchewan health databases, Lauren Brown, researcher with the U of A’s School of Public Health, found people with a history of depression had a 30 per cent increased risk of type 2 Diabetes.

Brown then studied the medical history of 2,400 people who were diagnosed with depression and were taking antidepressants to determine whether there was a clear correlation between that disease and type 2 Diabetes.

Brown divided the group into four categories: those who took antidepressants that were considered older therapies, patients who were using newer treatments, those using a combination of both an old and new treatments and people who were switching medications.

What she found was the risk of diabetes almost doubled for the patients who were using two types of therapies at the same time, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Brown says people are usually prescribed multiple medications “if they have severe depression or if they are having a problem finding the right therapy.”

Brown believes these results, and results of previous studies demonstrating an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in people with depression, emphasize the need for regular screening for type 2 diabetes in people with depression, particularly those taking more than one antidepressant. She also encourages diabetes and depression organizations to educate their members about this link.

This study was recently published in Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice.